Kirsty F. Weir

A Comparison of the Response Styles Theory and the Hopelessness Theory of Depression in Preadolescents

This study compares predictions from the Hopelessness Theory of depression (Abramson, Metalsky, & Alloy, 1989) with the Response Styles Theory of depression (RST; Nolen-Hoeksema, 1987) with data obtained from a preadolescent sample (ages 9 to 13 years). Three hundred ten preadolescents completed self-report measures of stress, sense of control, rumination, and depressive symptoms. Neither rumination nor perceived control moderated the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms. However, path models revealed that perceived control was a more powerful mediator of the relationship between stress and depressive symptoms than rumination. Rather than having a direct impact on depressive symptoms, rumination exerted an indirect effect by predicting lowered perceived control. Overall, these results provide support for the Hopelessness Theory of depression and partial support for the RST in this sample of preadolescents.

The perception of false self scale for adolescents: Reliability, validity, and longitudinal relationships with depressive and anxious symptoms

A scale assessing generalized false self-perceptions (Perceptions of False Self, POFS) was developed and tested across three studies involving a total of 331 adolescents (11-16 years). In Study 1, interviews were conducted to develop items for the scale. In Study 2, psychometric techniques were used to derive a scale composed of 16 items. Study 2 also assessed the validity of the scale: depressive symptoms were found to increase POFS across 10 weeks, whereas false self-perceptions had a reciprocal effect on anxiety. In Study 3, the convergent validity of the POFS scale was established. Overall, the evidence suggests that the POFS scale is a reliable and valid measure of generalized false self-perceptions.

Adolescent Sense of Control: A Downward Extension of the Shapiro Control Inventory to Pre- and Early Adolescents

ABSTRACT The most commonly used measures of perceived control for young adolescents are dated, psychometrically flawed, or focused on particular domains. To address the need for a general purpose measure of control for this age range, the overall sense of control (OSOC) and the domains of control (DOC) subscales of the Shapiro Control Inventory (D. H. Shapiro, 1994), designed for use with adults, were modified. Exploratory factor analyses suggested that the adapted OSOC and DOC scales consisted of internally consistent 1-factor structures, accounting for 32% and 29% of the variance, respectively. In Study 1, results from 310 preadolescents (9–13 years old) indicated that a higher sense of control was related to lower stress, OSOC, r(308) = −.52, p < .001; DOC, r(308) = −.23, p < .001; and depression, OSOC, r(308) = −.63, p < .001; DOC, r(308) = −.33, p < .001. In study 2, results from 195 adolescents (11–15 years old) showed that a higher sense of control was associated with lower stress, r(193) = −.55, p < .001, and depression, r(193) = −.60, p < .001, concurrently. The results suggest that these 2 revised measures of adolescent perceived control exhibited good content and predictive validities.

Can Child Self-Report Measures of Depression and Anxiety Be Used in College Samples?

Depression and anxiety are typically measured in college samples using adult scales. However, some child and adolescent versions of internalizing symptoms may be appropriate for use with college samples. Child versions may be appropriate to use with college samples when multi-sample designs are utilized, e.g., both children and adults are assessed. To explore this possibility, 149 college students (M age = 21.9 yr., SD = 6.3; 43 men, 106 women) were assessed on child and adolescent versions and adult scales of anxiety, i.e., the Revised Childrens Manifest Anxiety Scale and the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and depression, i.e., the Childrens Depression Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory. Both sets of depression scores were highly correlated (r = .81), which suggests that the childrens measure can be used in college samples. Although scores on the two anxiety scales were also significantly correlated, these scales shared less common variance. An exploratory factor analysis provided evidence that a single factor composed of all items for depression was an optimal solution. It was concluded that the Childrens Depression Inventory can be used with college samples; however, the Revised Childrens Manifest Anxiety Scale should not.

Part-time work and non-school activities while in high school: Is there a threshold effect on achievement? 1

Student involvement in extracurricular activities including sport and part-time work is considered to have an influence on achievement, yet there are conflicting views on whether the effect is negative or positive. Data were collected from 2,257 secondary students to investigate the relationship of different participation patterns with grade averages. Results reveal higher grades for students reporting 5-20 hours of total extracurricular activities including part-time work. In contrast, fewer than 5 and more than 20 hours weekly spent in combined extracurricular activities were associated with lower achievement. Implications for educators and parents are discussed.